The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

In the aftermath of the Saintess’ death and the declaration of the Knights of Light’s disbandment, the first gathering of the knights was held.

Anxiety, distrust, and suspicion were evident in the eyes of the knights who had lost their faith in the light.

Hundreds of knights gathered in the central hall.

When the news first broke, some of the knights who were shocked by the official disbandment had already defected, but they had not yet left to the point of losing their original form.

However, if things continued to go this way without any action or plan, it was inevitable that more knights would defect in the future.

Someone had to step up and take control.

An old man walked onto the stage that stood tall in front of the confused knights.

“……!”

Some of the knights who recognized the old man’s face couldn’t help but be surprised.

It was Jereon Alkin, the former Commander of the Knights of Light and the de facto leader of the knights.

It had been decades since he had appeared within the Order.

His words to the knights on the stage were very simple.

The Knights of Light were not disbanding, but reforming.

He said that the original form would remain the same, but that the role the Order had to play would also change as the times changed.

He said that the name “Knights of Light” would no longer be used to fit that changing role.

He said that it would be changed to the name of a new organization that followed a new order: “Redeem”.

In other words, the Knights of Salvation.

Jereon spoke confidently, saying that it was their duty to save all the people on this land who were crying out in despair in the name of salvation.

And so, the Knights of Light were reborn as the Knights of Salvation under a new name.

In the future, people would call this day the day a new order began.

“That was a truly magnificent speech. The echoes of it still linger.”

Aschel approached Jereon as he stepped down from the stage after finishing his speech.

“The knights also seem to have been deeply moved by your speech, Lord Jereon. The anxiety that had been gnawing at their hearts must have been greatly reduced.”

“I think I’m mistaken, but I told you I would help you, not that I would join you,”

Jereon immediately drew a line and denied it.

“I know. I was just wondering what kind of order you intended to establish. But I dare to say, Lord Jereon, that you too will soon follow us. A new order, not of light…”

Jereon had a strange look in his eyes at the mention of a new order.

“This new order you speak of, isn’t it ultimately meant to embrace even those who previously denied the light?”

“Of course. We will guide them not with more destruction or judgment, but with salvation.”

“I have some connection to your father, so I will give you just one piece of advice.”

Aschel smiled and folded his hands together as if welcoming the advice.

“Changing the order is not as easy as you think. Not only will you have to change the hearts of those who followed the old order, but you will also have to face the backlash from those who did not even follow the old order. It will take a long time to change their hearts as well.”

“I know what you’re worried about. But we can’t defeat them without doing this, can we? Don’t you know best, Commander, the danger posed by the beings of the mist?”

Jereon didn’t answer directly.

“We must mobilize everything. Even if it means pursuing things beyond this world.”

Aschel tightly gripped the pure white sword hanging from his waist.

* * *

[The Knights of Light are not disbanding, but reforming.]

[The Knights of Salvation, a new order for salvation.]

The morning proclamation that spread to each city and territory caused quite a stir.

Some people thought it was just a childish wordplay, but it was more than just annoying to a few people.

The proclamation of the Knights of Redemption, a new order for salvation, caused a stir among the people.

Some found it to be a clever wordplay, while others were more skeptical.

This new order meant abandoning the old beliefs and establishing a new set of values.

While it was unclear how much the Imperial Court and other powerful factions were involved in this, it was undeniable that they had a hand in it.

It was only a matter of time before they revealed their true motives, which had been hidden for years.

These motives would undoubtedly be directed at me and Mist.

Perhaps they even had something even bigger in mind.

Do you know what the best way to disrupt someone’s plans is?

It’s simple.

You just need to know all of their plans in advance.

My second life could be considered the ultimate weapon against this world.

However, I may have been overconfident in this weapon.

I thought I could handle anything they threw at me.

But if they gain access to information that even I don’t know, the story changes.

And the key to that unknown information lies with this silent elf, who is currently busy chewing on a hard piece of bread right in front of me.

‘The bread is so soft! I’ve never had such soft bread in Pruina!’

I don’t know if she’s just saying it or if she means it, but that bread looks hard enough to break a tooth in one bite.

She must have found this place that barely qualifies as a restaurant to avoid crowded places, but it’s really a dump.

I can’t believe I came to a place where they can’t even serve bread properly.

And it’s even funnier that this elf is eating it and saying it’s delicious.

Ancient Records

Information that is truly unknown to any human living on this land.

Saintess Nephrodite tried to take it from Hastia, and the fact that she tried to take it means that those who shared her cause also wanted this information.

Even the foolish princess came here with just one knight to try to get it.

‘Cyan?’

Now that I think about it, why did Princess Arin come to Aquiel alone?

Could she have been planning to steal the ancient records without anyone knowing?

‘Cyan?’

There must have been a few things I should have asked her then.

I was really out of my mind back then…

‘Cyan!’

“……!”

Those blue eyes, filled with a sense of resentment, were staring at me intently.

Rather than responding to the mind-link, she covered my face with both hands as if asking me to look at her.

I had no choice but to respond.

‘What were you thinking that you didn’t respond even when I called you?’

“What is it?”

‘Just. I’m saying this soup is delicious…’

She held out a bowl of steaming soup as if offering it to me.

It was just a plain soup made by boiling animal bones.

The fact that she considered this delicious made me feel a newfound sense of pity for the harsh life they lived in Pruina.

I could have easily let her go, but I kept her by my side for a simple reason: I judged it safer to keep her close.

Do you think they’re planning to steal the ancient records?

At least if I keep her by my side, I can prevent others from trying to steal them.

I don’t want to believe in such a flimsy excuse as divine protection.

In other words, it means that the gods, who are so high and mighty, have something they want to hide so much that they need protection.

This is their so-called weakness.

Even if it’s just to achieve my crazy god’s whim, I can’t help but be curious.

‘But you don’t seem to be here, Demonic Sword?’

“…”

“Are you sleeping?”

“I think so.”

I didn’t want to think about it too much, so I just brushed it off.

As Hastia tilted her head and was about to resume her meal,

‘Someone is coming!’

She raised her ears hidden under her hood and said, sensing some kind of presence.

Are they finally here?

I feel a little late, but it seems like they found me well.

“Oh, you’re here, Young master!”

“Aren’t you a bit late?”

“Well, I guess I was unlucky. I searched all over the area and this was the last place I found…”

“You worked hard to get here, so sit down.”

“Yes…”

As he was about to sit down, he spotted Hastia sitting right in front of him and his eyes widened.

“Young master. Who is this?”

“It’s just a White Elf I’m working with for a while.”

“A, a White Elf?!”

What a big deal.

Just calm down.

‘Cyan , who is this?’

Hastia also asked me who he was, as he was a stranger to her.

“This is Brian, my servant.”

“Y-Young Master Cyan’s servant, Brian Kendrick!”

Brian bowed his head and introduced himself.

It seems that his clumsy personality hasn’t changed even after all these years.

‘Young master?’

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just an old title I used to be called.”

Hastia blinked her eyes blankly, not understanding.

“Did you check the house’s barrier properly?”

“Yes! I checked it carefully one last time before I left. I don’t think there will be any big problems since Nana doesn’t go out on her own…”

The fact that he can’t finish his sentence means there must be another problem.

“It seems like there are agents frequently coming around the house lately.”

“Agents?”

“Yes. They appear more frequently than usual and keep hanging around the area. They don’t seem to be aware of anything, but I get the feeling they’re somehow checking to see if you’re here…”

Was the leader really hoping I would just take Nana for a walk?

I understand that the leader would want me to stay somewhere quiet and peaceful, but unfortunately, I don’t have any intention of doing that.

They must have heard about what happened in Aquiel by now, so they must be looking for me everywhere by now.

I guess I need to erase my tracks a little more.

“I’ll be out for a while.”

I left the two of them and walked out of the restaurant.

* * *

Cyan left the restaurant without saying where he was going.

An awkward silence fell between Hastia and Brian who were left behind.

-Sigh

Hastia carefully pushed the food she was eating towards Brian.

“Oh, no, that’s alright. You don’t have to…”

‘You said you looked around the area to find us? Aren’t you hungry?’

“…”

‘Oh, maybe you can’t use telepathy?’

Ironically, Brian was not proficient enough in mental magic to use telepathy.

Since most of the people she had met so far had been able to communicate easily through telepathy, Hastia had naturally used it as well.

However, Brian, who could not understand this, just stared blankly.

“Oh, are you unable to speak?”

Hastia nodded cautiously.

“Then, is this kind of communication possible?”

Without hesitation, Brian began to express something in the air with both hands.

It was sign language, a visual language that conveys meaning through hand gestures.

‘……!’

Hastia understood Brian’s sign language and responded to him in the same way.

“Ah, I see you can understand. I understand.”

Having found a common ground by chance, they quickly became closer.

Hastia told Brian the whole story of how she came to be here with Cyan’s help from the Kingdom of Garam.

“I see. Our Young master may seem blunt, but he is a very caring person. Perhaps he called me to protect you, Lady Hastia.”

While exchanging stories about Cyan,

-Creak

The door of the restaurant opened and another two men and women entered.

“Is there a reason you came to this place when there are many other restaurants?”

“I don’t like crowded places very much, and I just feel a familiar smell in this old restaurant.”

Brian’s face turned to stone as he heard the woman’s voice right behind Hastia and Brian.

It was a voice that was strangely familiar.

As he quickly rummaged through his memories, he realized that this voice was very similar to the voice of a woman who had often visited his room when he was living at the academy with Cyan.

Not only that, but she was the one who had helped them against Garam Magic Society and escape from Brenu…

‘Lady Luna?’

———